Spring cover



M. H WHITEHOUSE SPRING COVER Filed May 7, 1931 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 PATENT -FFICE MILtron H. WHITEHOUSE, or MILWAUKEEiWISCONSIN SPRING COVER Application, filed May 7, 1931. Serial No. 535,603.

This invention relates to improvements in spring covers adapted to embrace a leaf wardly from the longitudinal edges thereof,

to a point upon opposite sides of the center with the material between the slits having its narrowest portion folded upon itself whereby to position the outer ends of the :cut-

out material in spaced relation with the edges of the material so that the edges of the cutout portion will overlap the space formed by'the cutout portions and provide a very flexible and eificient spring cover from a single piece of material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spring cover from a single piece of material, wherein tapering pieces are cutout from the body of the material with the smaller portions folded inwardly upon the inside of the cover so that the wider portions will overlap the edges of the cutout to provide a wide range of flexibility to the cover, and still retain the lubricant around the spring, and also to provide improved means for locking the longitudinal edges of the cover together, so that the cover can be tightly clamped to the spring.

A still further object of the lIlVGIltlOIllS the provision of a spring cover formed of a single piece of material, whereby to'reduce to a comparatively simple form, the

manner ofconstructing :a spring cover for leaf-springs, and to incorporate inthis construction, means for providing amaX1mum amount of flexibility, and also means for securely locking the cover to the spring.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the olaimsand shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

F gure l is a side elevation of a spring cover-constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the application of the same to one end of a leaf-spring Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from whlch the cover is formed, illustrating the posltions of the overlapped parts before folding; V j

Figure 3 is a detailed section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing one ofthe cutout members in folded position; Y

Figures is a transverse sectional view through the spring cover, showing the positlon ofthe same prior to application; and,

Figure 5 is a detailed section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1. 1 w

In the construction of spring covers of this character, considerable diflicultyhas been encountered in providing a one-piece cover which will embody proper construction to permit sufficient flexibility to the cover, so that the same will bevreadily retained in posi tionv regardless of the movement of the springs, and with this end in view, I provide a spring cover formed from a single piece of material, the blank of which is indicated at 1.

This blank is stamped out intapering form,

asillustrated in Figure 2 to conform to the shape of theleaf-spring when applied and spaced projecting portions are left" on the blank for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. v r I After the blank hasbeen stamped out, it is then provided at spaced intervals with slits 2,

the inner ends of which converge to form a comparatively narrow strip at the inner ends of the cutout parts 3. It will be noted that the cutout parts 3 continue into the projections left on the blank so that the material of these cutout parts is longer than thespace provided in the edges of the blank, after the slits 2 are made therein.

After the slits 2 are formed in the blank, the inner ends of the cutout parts 3 are folded upon themselves as shown at and positioned upon the interior of the longitudinal central portion 5 of the blank.

This operation brings the outer large end of the cutout members 3 inwardly of the side edges of the blank, so that the wider parts of the cutout members will overlap the space between the slits 2. i p

In folding the blank to conform to the shape of the leaf-spring, it is first folded upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center on the lines indicated at 6 and then folded to form the side walls 7 by folding on the lines 8. After the side walls 7 have been formed, the fold line 8 brings the material inwardly over the bottom of the spring and forms the two opposed bottom sections 9.

During the folding of the body of the blank, the cutout members 3 are also folded along the same lines. After the blank has been shaped to conform to a leaf-spring, as shown in Figure 4, it can then be folded on the several lines 10 to form the locking members ll and 12. The two locking members 11 and 1-2 are formed so that one locking member will lit within the other, the first locking member being somewhat smaller than the locking member on the other side so as to fit It will be noted that when the blank is folded as described above, the folded portions 4 of the f'c utout members 3 are disposed on the top "of the spring and the tapering side portions of the cutout members 3 overlap the sides of the notches or spaces 13 formed in the edges of the blank, through the medium of the slits 2.

By providing the cutout members 3 in a "somewhat longer length than the width of each side of the blank, the large outer ends of these members cause the side portions to 6X- tend beyond the sides of} the notches 13,- so as to entirely enclose the spring, but due to these cutaway portions, the body of the blank,

after being "fitted to the spring, as shown in Figure 1, will be allowed to flex to conform to the fiexure of the spring.

InFi'gure 5, a cross sectional view is illustrated showing the relative positions of the locking members 11 and 12, together with the end portions 14; and 15 of the cutout members 3 disclosing the fact that these locking members, as Well as the ends Hand 15, can be pressed down to form a comparatively small. seam along the bottom of the spring and after the -locking members have been interlocked and pressed down, the cover will tightly embracethe spring and be securely retained in position. However, upon any flexing of the spring, the parts will readily conform to the shape of the spring during flexing thereof, so

In Figure 5, I have illustrated the cover applied to the spring 1 6 without, the use of the *u's'u'al'canvas lining, and it will be appar- It will be noted that when the coveris placed in position, the folded parts 4 rest snugly upon the top of the spring and while the central portion 5 is somewhat spaced from the uppermost leaf of the spring, this space will be partially filled by the canvas interlining whenever used.

It Will be apparent that by constructing a spring cover as described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the entire cover is formed of a singlepiece of material and by cutting out the overlapping portions 3 from the longitudinal edges ofthe body of the blank, it will impart considerable flexibility to the cover, but'at the same time will provide means in the shape of members 3', for closing these cutout or open spaces after the cover has been applied to the spring.

l'n'Figu're' 1 the amou'ntofoverlap on the part .of the members 3 is clearly illustrated by the dotted lines, and it will be noted that this overlapping is sufiicient to take care of any ordinary flexing of the springs.

I claim: A

1. A spring cover formed from a single blank of material having spaced diverging slits and alternate intermediate portions being folded back upon themselves to overlap adjacent portions and adapted to maintain said: overlapping relation under spring flexure.

2. A spring cover formed from a single blank of Y material tapered longitudinally, having spaced divergent slits extending from opposite sides of the longitudinal center. of the blank through opposed edges thereofjand alternate intermediate portions beingfold'ed back upon themselves to overlap adjacent portions. 7 V 3 V I 3. A spring cover of a single blank of material, formed channeled shaped fol-embracing a spring; said blank having divergent slits with alternate intermediate portions folded back upon themselves to overlap adjacent portionsand the free edges of the channel being locked together on one side of thespring. V

4. A spring cover of a single blank of material formed'channeled shape for embracing a spring, said blank having spaceddivergent v slits with alternate intermediate portions folded back upon themselves to overlap ad- -:jacent port-ions, interfitting locking members at the free edges of the channel adapted to 'be flattened against one :side of the spring for locking the same to the spring.

as to eliminate any breakageor tearing of the cover;

5. A spring 'cover'of a single blank o f-sheet metal, lateral extensions along the edges thereof, spaced tongues cut from the metal forming a tapered inward continuation of said extensions, the-111 1161 ends of said tongues being folded back upon themselves to cause the sides to overlap adjacent.- portions of the blank and maintain said overlapping relation under spring flexure.

6. A spring cover of a single blank of sheet metal, lateral extensions along the edges forming a tapered inward continuation of said extensions, the inner ends of said blanks being folded back upon themselves to cause the sides of the tongues to overlap adjacent 7 portions of the blank, said blank and tongues being formed channeled shaped for embracing a spring and the free edges of the blank being locked together at one side of the spring.

7. A spring cover of a single blank of sheet metal, lateral extensions along the edges thereof, spaced tongues cut from the metal forming tapered inward continuations of said extensions, the inner ends of said tongues being folded back upon themselves to cause the sides thereof to overlap adjacent portions of the blank, said blank and tongues being formed channeled shaped for embracing a spring, interfitting locking members at the free edges of the channel adapted to be flattened against one side of the spring for locking the channel securely thereto.

8. A spring cover formed from a single blank of material having spaced divergent slits with alternate intermediate portions having their outer ends extending beyond the edges of the blank, said intermediate portions having their inner ends foldedback upon themselves to draw the extended ends inwardly whereby the folded intermediate portions will have their sides arranged in overlapping relation with adjacent portions.

9. A spring cover comprising a single blank of material including a central web, said blank being folded upon opposite sides of the web to form a channeled shaped body for embracing a spring, spaced tongues cut from the side portions of the blank, the innerends of the tongues being folded back upon themselves with the folded portion disposed transversely of the central web, and the side edges thereof overlapping adjacent portions of the blank.

10. A spring cover comprising a single blank of material including a central web, said blank being folded upon opposite sides of the web, to form a channeled shaped body.

for embracing a spring, spaced tongues cut from the side portions of the blank, the inner ends of the tongues being folded back upon themselves with the folded portion disposed transversely of the central web, and the side edges thereof overlapping adjacent portions of the blank and interfitting look ing members at the free edges of the channel i adapted to be flattened against one side of the spring for locking the channel securely to the spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing Ihave hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee,

in the county of Milwaukee and State of 'Wisconsin. thereof, spaced blanks cut from the metal MILTON H. WHITEHOUSEQ 

